India vows no monkey business at badminton world championship

NEW DELHI: Monkeys and bird droppings marred the India Open badminton tournament earlier this year, but officials promised Wednesday those problems would not be repeated at world championship this month.

The showpiece event returns to India after 17 years at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium from August 17-23.

The venue faced severe criticism for its poor hygiene after play was disrupted on several days in January 2026, including during a semi-final match when debris from a bird’s nest fell on the court.

Bird droppings were also seen on courts, while TV pictures showed a monkey making its way into the stands.

“I am 100 percent sure that this time the pigeon-related or any kind of bird and animal-related problems will not occur during the world championship,” Badminton Association of India (BAI) secretary Sanjay Mishra told AFP.

“All the problems that were encountered during the India Open have been solved, and this edition will prove to be one of the best world championships.”

The draws for the 30th edition of the world championships were announced in the national capital on Wednesday, with Badminton World Federation officials confident of a good tournament.

“A lot of work has gone into the venue, from waterproofing to applying gel on the roofing – to stop pigeons perching on those beams,” BWF events director of tournament operations Selvaamresh Supramaniam told AFP.

“The ceiling, a lot was damaged, wirings were exposed. They are all repaired, and deep-cleaning has been done.”

“The main reason for having the India Open at this venue was to see what we needed to do, and we achieved its objective,” Supramaniam added.

“We know there was lot of bad publicity, but it has driven everyone in the same direction – that we need to do this.”

World number one Shi Yuqi of China will defend his title in the men’s singles, while Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi was the winner in the women’s singles in Paris last year.